After 23 years writing monthly articles for our customers, it was decided to do something a little different. We were recently sent these two photos and a nice description of a customer’s better than new Chevrolet 216 six cylinder engine. All was put together for enthusiasts to get up close and see all at its very best. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did talking to the owner of this one of a kind creation.

Wow. A better than new 1951-53 Chevrolet 216 six cylinder engine! We could not let this ground-up restoration go without bringing it to the attention of our readers.

General Motors only wished they could produce this perfect engine appearance on their “fast moving” assembly lines. It was not financially practical.

Credit goes to Carol Day (one of our great salespersons) for discovering the engine, and to Robert Sladky of Waverly, Nebraska that put this all together. At early year car and truck shows when enthusiasts look for the vehicles they like best, almost all stop at Robert’s engine display. Few have ever seen an older automotive engine that is nicer than new, in a partial frame with no body sheet metal covering it. And then they discover it is over 70 years old! What an attention getter. It gets better. This show engine is actually running!

Robert uses a late model muffler that removes most exhaust noise. This type operating display is so unusual at these shows. It must be quite a big attraction to draw so much audience!

For the Perfectionist

The pictured Chevrolet 216 cubic inch engine is from a 1951-53 passenger car. Not a truck but is almost the same.

Look close at the six spark plug wires. Their ends at the plugs are bare metal.

Reason: Early rubber could not withstand high heat. Thus, GM did not place rubber insulation on the spark plug ends.

That has caused some mechanics to say, “Don’t touch the bare wire ends when it’s running or you might not have more children!”

Note some extra details:

  • Robert built this sub frame on wheels to allow it to roll up on his trailer with the engine to take to shows.
  • The Chevy truck gauge cluster shows the readings when the engine is running.
  • This 1951-53 engine has side motor mounts as used in cars. See the 3 bolt positions in front of the exhaust on the left side. Trucks continued with front mounting system the unusual 3 holes remain on the block.
  • Cars have a key operated solenoid on the starter as on this engine. Trucks used a foot operated rod to the switch attached to the starter under the cab floor.
  • This oil bath air filter on the carburetor is passenger car only.
  • Black air vent tube beside motor mount on the right side curves around where the mount would be on a car.
  • The six volt battery always has two ground cables on Chevrolets. The one from the ear of the starter to the frame rail will be added soon.
  • White plastic gas tank and voltage regulator are perfect for this display. Nice planning.
  • Accessory orange GM Fram oil filter adds to the appearance.
  • Original car automatic choke on the carburetor elements one step in starting a cold engine.
  • The glass top fuel pumps are out of production at this time. Robert found an original.

A real original GM glass top

fuel pump!

You can contact Robert at: ras10940@gmail.com

Video Below! Click the bottom left arrow.